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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Baru Bian: ‘High time Sarawak moves out of shadow to flourish’

September 14, 2016, Wednesday

KUCHING: It is time for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan
Satem to really let Sarawak’s voice be heard in Putrajaya and move
Sarawak out of the shadows as it’s time for Sarawak to flourish and
prosper.

State PKR chairman Baru Bian said this in his Malaysia Day message received here yesterday.

The
chief minister, he said was in a strong position, having won a huge
mandate from the people, to cut the cord (being in coalition with the
Barisan Nasional/Umno -led federal government) that binds him with the
federal government.

“The chief minister has to take the lead. His
duty to Sarawak and Sarawakians is more critical than his loyalty to his
political allies – BN/Umno,” he added.

“Sarawakians have been patient for 53 years, but we will be patient no longer,” he warned.

The
chief minister, Baru noted, has voiced his frustration last week when
he said bluntly ‘If we are left behind by 10 to 20 years, I can still
understand but if we are behind by half a century, I can’t tolerate it
anymore’.

“His statement expresses what every Sarawakian feels. We
have not benefited from this Malaysia Agreement. Malaya has progressed
by leaps-and- bounds and Sarawak has fallen further behind than we were
53 years ago. What is the solution?

“They have played us out all these years, and will continue to do so as long as PBB is a part of BN.

“It is time to take our rightful place in Malaysia. It is time for Sarawak to flourish and prosper.”

Baru
said he had observed gradual changes in Sarawak in the last 10 years or
so with more people flying the Jalur Gemilang on Sept 16 instead of Aug
31.

“This reflects the growing awareness of the significance of
Malaysia Day. This consciousness can only be good for the nation as it
shows maturing people for whom historical truth matters.

“I am
glad that the government has declared Sept 16 a public holiday to
commemorate Malaysia Day each year. It is only right that the truth is
acknowledged, late though it may be.”

Sharing his school day
memories, Baru said his school – Long Semadoh Primary School – would
hold a sports carnival to celebrate Malaysia Day and Parents’ Day.

Teams
from Indonesia would come to their village to compete in football
matches and reciprocating visits to their villages the month before
their Independence Day on Aug 17.

“In the 60s, our celebrations were held on a big scale, involving many hours of preparation.

“The
Malaysia Day celebrations has somehow lost its lustre, as we were
increasingly encouraged to celebrate Aug 31 as Hari Merdeka.

After being first elected to represent the people of Ba Kelalan, Baru reintroduced the Malaysia Day celebrations in 2010.

“The
idea was received with great enthusiasm and ever since, Malaysia Day
has been celebrated on a grand scale in Ba Kelalan. The participants
come from across the border joining us like in the old days.”

The
people took interest in organising various activities in collaboration
with the district office and Baru made it a point to attend the
festivities every year.

As an extension and progression of this
recognition of Malaysia Day, Baru hopes to see the federal government
acknowledge the rights of Sarawakians as spelled out in the Malaysia
Agreement.

“It is time to treat us as an equal partner in the Federation of Malaysia.

“We
want our rights to be respected as guaranteed in the agreement. We need
our petroleum royalty to be increased to a fairer share and we must
have our territorial integrity restored to us.”

Baru said so much had gone wrong these past 53 years and Sarawakians were today paying a heavy price.

Sarawak’s
leaders, he said, must take responsibility for the people’s woes as
they had allowed such a situation to develop, being in coalition with
the Umno-led federal government.

“Indeed, many are guilty of
exploiting our own people also. If the federal government continues to
merely pay us lip service without any concrete action, it will be
difficult to gain our cooperation and respect.”

Many issues were
in need of attention such as schools and the education system,
healthcare, infrastructure, employment and security.

“Racial
discrimination and restrictions on our freedom of religion are
continuing to plague us, due largely to the policies of the federal
government.

“The celebration of Malaysia’s formation when carried
out with respect to historical accuracy will foster better ties between
Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah.

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PKR will bring the change that Sarawak desperately needs. We will return the trees, the lands and the rivers to the people. Corruption will stop. Taib will continue to hand over the State's wealth and resources to Putrajaya and the preferred elite. PKR, led by Baru Bian in Sarawak, will not steal. Thirty years is enough! The time is now! BERUBAHLAH!